Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-10-05
BERNIE.
The Souvenir OF Roses That Dame
Too Late.
A True Story.

1t happened last spring Just before II
commenced to grow warm, and re.
member was still wearing my old
winter suit, and that was why he
called me "the brown lady" My
dress was brown, you know-but I for
get; you don't know any thing about
it To me the whole story is still ever
present. can not forget it. Inever
did take anything so deeply to heart
before. Pm not bit thoughtful OF
good in any way. I'm just one OF
those frivolous, giggling school
girls" you've read of often, and / do
giggle ever so much; ! can't help it.
Anything that seems funny to me ]
must laugh at, and, rs am apt to see
the jolly side of every thing first, am
almost always Smiling aloud" Dear
me! am awfully afraid that is slang
(another of my bad habits). Is it?
What was l sayingP Oh, yes, about
laughing; remember now. Well, as
! said before, always am giggling
except when l feel unhappy, and UNI
happiness brings me back to Bernie
and my story. 1t happened in this
way. l felt "blue" one day about
myself, and it seemed as though such
a careless, silly girl was just good for
nothing; and while i was thinking this
and getting ready to cry, as even frlv-
olous girls do sometimes, 10 came in.
10 is one of my schoolmates; she is
ever so nice, but very quiet and re-
ligious. and she never seemed to like
me much. am afraid l shocked her.
But this time 10 came in and saw in a
moment that felt low-spirited, so she
proposed that, rs it was Saturday, /
should ask Mrs. Leroy CHATS our prin-
cipaD if might go to the Children s
Hospital with several of the girls, 10,
of course, among them, who were in the
habit of going there Saturday MORN
ings TO amuse the poor sick children.
] had never cared to go before, but this
day it seemed as though anything
would be better than moping at
school; for though it was Saturday, and
] was day scholar usually, this par
ticular week mamma and papa were
out of town and l had to be board
ing pupil until they came back; and
you may guess / didn't enjoy the situ-
alton at all, though Mrs. Leroy was
very kind.
At length it was arranged should
accompany 10 and the rest of the girls
to the hospital, and we all started to-
gether. 1t was bright, clear day,
and the brisk walk and the sunshine, in
some incomprehensible manner, drove
away my "blues;" and them am so
ashamed to confess it, but will
began to feel that the hospital visit
would be bore. However, it was too
late to go back. so 1 went on fully
prepared to spend disagreeable MORN
ing.
When we arrived must say was
surprised. l never had been in q
hospital before, and HAD an
idea that they were horrid places,
not over-clcan, you know, and stuffy
and dark. But when l entered the
cool, airy rooms was really aston
ishcd. 1t was perfectly lovely! In the
rcception-room there was neat rug
on The floor. and on the table in the
center of the room was huge bowl of
flowers. A pretty dormitory opposite
ward. believe. is the correct word
showed that the cleanliness and beauty
of the building were not confined to
the parlors.
10, remembering my fondness for
small boys, took me up Stairs to the
boys ward. 1t was ever so clean
and sunny there too; but all those
poor suffering little fellows awcd me,
and stood in the doorway and stared
about and was just as awkward and
stupid rs could be. IL did not seem
as If l could make up my mind to
speak 10 any of the children. didn't
know what to say. I might have
stood there long while, but suddenly
! heard faint little voice call, LADY,
ladyr' turned around. and there In
q cot near me lay little boy eight or
nine years old. He was calling me,
too. Wasn't il queerp He did not
want 10 or the others. He just took a
fancy to me.
was never so much pleased, but,
absurd as IL seems, l could not help
feeling embarrassed, for had never
talked much with any children and
did not Know what | should say to this
hoy whose eyes looked at me longing
y. AZ | came near he lifted his thin
little arms and stretched out his hands
20 me, and then forgot my silly shy
ness and kissed him, aud we became
good friends in very short time. !
told him my name, but he never could
remember IL, and rs / always wore my
brown dress when went to see him,
he called me his "browu lady"
For / went to the hospital often
after that day. and tried to be inter-
ested in the other boys, but l couldn't
and so ] spent all my timo there with